Discovering the Spirit of Prophecy
“I Saw the Lovely Jesus” T
hose who are called to prophetic ministry most often receive direct divine revelation through visions and dreams. Prophetic visions and dreams are something like a virtual reality, in which God communicates to the mind of His messenger more directly, as described in Daniel 10:7-9, Isaiah 1:1, and Habbakuk 2:1, 2. Seventh-day Adventists believe that Ellen White (1827-1915) exercised the biblical gift of prophecy during more than 70 years of public ministry. Though not a Scripture author, she received divinely initiated communications through prophetic visions and dreams. A very precious part of these revelations was the privilege of seeing, hearing, and even being touched by Jesus. This had a profound impact on her life and writings. Her lifelong effort, as a messenger of the Lord, was to point people to the Bible and connect them to Jesus. JESUS SAID, “FEAR NOT”
Ellen White first saw Jesus in a personal supernatural dream when she was about 15 years old. Though she had been baptized, she still struggled with an intense 24
April 2021 AdventistWorld.org
sense of her sinfulness and unworthiness to be saved. In her dream she was led into a room and saw Jesus. She related, “There was no mistaking that beautiful countenance. That expression of benevolence and majesty could belong to no other.” When He looked at her, she saw in His eyes that He knew “every circumstance” of her life and all her “inner thoughts and feelings.” Feeling overwhelmed, she tried to hide from His “searching eyes.” Then the most amazing thing happened. She wrote: “He drew near with a smile, and, laying His hand upon my head, said, ‘Fear not.’” This expression of pity and loving acceptance overwhelmed her. She remembered: “The sound of His sweet voice thrilled my heart with a happiness it had never before experienced. I was too joyful to utter a word, but, overcome with emotion, sank prostrate at His feet.” After a time, while she was still in the dream, her strength returned, and she arose. As she left the place, she recollected: “The loving eyes of Jesus were still upon me, and His smile filled my soul with gladness. His presence filled me with a holy reverence and an inexpressible love.”1 Image: leolintang / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
